Automatic oil drain



Nov. 16 1926. 1,607,486

G. w. SHAW AUTOMATIC OIL DRAIN Filed Dec. 6. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZN VIN TOR Gemye W5Zaw WZQ G. w. SHAW AUTOMATIC OIL DRAIN Nov. 16 1926. 1,607,486

Filed Dec; 6. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMa/mm- Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

naarsn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE VI. SHAW, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC OIL DRAIN. 7

Application filed December 6, 1823. Serial No. 678,873.

necessity of removing dirty and inaccessible plugs or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a siphon having one leg within the oil chamber and the other leg outside thereof, the latter being rotatably adjustable in operative condition. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide means for inducing the siphonic action order to place the siphon in operative or in-' where the crown of the siphon is above the normal low level of the oil to be drained.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for fastening or looking the movable outer leg in an inoperative position.

A still further object of the invention is toprovide means for supporting the movable outer leg in an operative position-and to protect a portion thereof against damage due-to catapulting objects from the roadway.

Other objects of my invention are, to provide an automatic shut oif means which will be opened and closed by the movements of the outer movable leg and according to the position thereof; to provide a unique struc ture that will facilitate the installation thereof, to provide mechanical means for closing the outer leg as a precaution against leakage and avoiding the suction of-air during the induction of the siphonic action.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth .and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, may understand how-to make and use the same, I will describev its construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which V Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a conventional internal combustion engine illustrating one application of 'my invention and showing in dotted lines the position assumed by the outer leg when in operative condition.

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary end view thereof.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged fragmentary sectional end view of the same illustrating certain details of construction embodied in the device.

Fig. i, is a fragmentary side elevation of the siphon removed from theengine and 11-. lustrating its relation to the locking lug andther component parts.

Fig. 5, is an edge view of the supporting bracket or rest.

Fig. 6, is a plan view thereof.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, 2 repreents an oil Chamber in a power plant of an automobile, motor boat or the like and although said power plant is here shown only as an engine 3 of the conventional internal combustion type it is to be understood that this is merely a re resentation illustrating the manner in which the device is used and wherever the words power plant are used they are to include all component parts such as engine crank cases, oil sumps, drip pans, transmission casings or housings, differential housings and the like.

In the present instance the oil chamber 2 is illustrated as being in the engine crank case 4 having the usual outlet 5 forming a recess 6 below the lowermost level of the bottom of the casing, and normally closed by a plug 7 Within the oil chamber is located the innor leg 8 of the siphon shown as comprising a tube or pipe of any desirable size. shape or configuratiomthe lower open'end of which is located at any desirable point within the oil chamber but preferably a ranged so as to project into the recess 6 and its inner leg 8 may be positioned at any angle or may follow the general lines of the casing or housing in which it is located as herein illustrated. The upper end of the inner leg 8 communicates through a hole 9 with the interior of the socket 10, the two being con formed integral. The outer end of this socket is opened and projects through a wall of the casingor the housing inwhich it is installed and is held in place by a nut 11 or its equivalent mounted on the outer end nected in any suitable manner as by being of the socket and engaging the outer face 01" therein and said supporting bracket or rest the casing or housing d nut preferably having threaded connect n with said socket.

The outer ot' the siphon is alzo "hown comprising a tube or pipe and m y )G of any suitable size, shape or configure; ion but preferably consists of spindle poi.-

intermediate portion 1% at right on and also at rifg' t angles to the l portion,

ina'l portion 13 or the outer leg rejects into the socket l0 and has ole the en'denclosed within the s 'cltet l0 and so positioned as to legi'ster with the 9 in socket when the intero'r" the outer leg isin sub- ='zontal position and to be on with said opening 9 when .ate portion of said outer leg is *ubetantially vertical position. outer leg and moreparticularly the spindle uortion thereof, provided with a collar 7 which abuts the outer end of the socket l and this is engaged by recesied fastened in position in some suitable 1" nor as by colts lilpassing through the hi and having threaded connection with the collar and while said collar holds the outer leg in p ace it permits the same to be rotated. it" found desirable the joint or joints formed between the socket 10, the nut 11, the collar 17 and the ring 18 may be suitably packed. v

The different legs of. the siphon, may he made up of a number ofsectionsiffound desirable or preferable andfwhein so inade may be screw threaded, telescopically or otherwise-connected. It is especially desirable that they outer legof the siphon be made of a number of sections .in orderto provide said outer leg with a stop cock or valve 20 of any usual or ordinary construction,

In order to hold the outer leg ot the siphon in an inoperative position said outer leg is provided witha hasp 21 tor coaction with a locking lug 22 supported by some rigid object such as, for instance, the engine block and a Olll 23 oassin throuoh the-has") L l 2;: as l and into the locking lug may be used to hold the parts together and a lock 24-, such as a padlock. may be passed through both the hasp and lockinglug for locking the parts together and. thereby prevent unauthorized use of the drainagedevice.

In order to limit the movement of the outer leg of the siphon in one direction and supporting the same in operative position as well to protect a portion he outer leg ofthe siphon and more partlcularly the joint atthe crown of the [siphon or between its two legs I provide a supporting brackdt or casmg or houslng havlng the 011 chamber as stud bolts or their equiv-cl to accommodate thering '18 said supporti The rest 25 which is carried by the.

is located in close pr iriinity to the crown wall of the casing and extends upward desirable distance and also horizontally beneath the siphon crown said horizontal por tion'forming the rest 26. This supper bracket or rest is preferably at; chab the casing wall and to this end l provic. u, fir ngs 27 having holes 28 theret-I th'efpassa'ge of suitable faster nt ant bracket orrest "is recessed or shaped as topro iect around said ring. v

ln tlfe'for'm of the invention above de- Scribed,-th'e crown "of the siphon, or in other fword s the socket l0,'is positioned below the normal lowest level oi the oil ordinarily in the oil chamber so that when it is desired to drain the oil from said chamber'it is only necessary to turn the outer le of the siphon down to the position'show'n in dotted lines in Fig. lat which time the outer open end of the outer leg will be below the bottom of the oil chamber and since the crown of the siphon is below the lowest level of the oil said oil will immediately begin to fiow' through the siphon, it being understood that the stop cook 20 is open. The crown of the siphon as well as the outer legv eing thus filled with oil the siphonic action will be started and this siphonic action will continue to draw the oil from the chamber until the level of said-oil reaches the inner open end ofjth'e inner siphon leg. Thus alllof the oil, with any assign 'm'atterli'n "suspension or limited therewith fwith the exception o f'that remain ng in the recess'6 below theop'en end of the inner siphon-16g will bedrainedtrom the chamber; 7

Aswill be obvious this isa' relatively simple and clean operation and invites the draining oi' oil chambers with greater frequency than is now the case and also induces the use of a flushing oil which is thinner than that generally used for lubricating purposes and should be used alter the old oil is drained inorder to insure a thorough cle'ansmo ved; and the small amountot oil remaininginthe recess 6 allowed to flow out which may then be done withoutthelikelihood of soiling the hands or clothing to'any 'great extent. I 7

his a well known fact that a power'plant in automobiles, motor boats and the like will become thin due to heat or has become di- 7 luted with gasolene which may have leaked into the oil chamber. By the use of the invention described above these disadvantages are entirely overcome as the removal and flushing of the oil chamber, prior to the refilling of the oil chamber, is a relatively simple and clean operation and may be accomplished quickly even by the layman.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. An oil drain comprising the combination with a housing having an oil chamber therein, of an inner siphon leg having its inlet end located in proximity to the bottom of the oil chamber, a socket having an open outer end projecting through a wall of the housing and communicating with the inner siphon leg, means on the outer end of the socket to hold the same in place and an outer siphon leg having one end journalled in said socket, said journalled end having a hole for registration :withthe communicating end of the inner leg when said outer leg is in a substantially horizontal position and out of registration with said communication when the outer leg is in a substantially vertical position to shut off the communication between said legs, a collar carried by the outer leg for engagement with the outer end of the socket, a ring embracing said collar to prevent displacement of the outer leg relative to the socket, means to fasten said ring in place, and a stop cock located at a suitable position on the outer leg.

2. An oil drain comprising a siphon for association with an oil chamber and consisting of inner and outer legs, said outer leg being rotatable, and a supporting bracket r rest located in the region of the joint between the two siphon legs and partially surrounding the same with one portion projecting vertically and another portion horizontallly, said horizontal portion coacting with the outer leg to limit its downward movement. 7

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GEORGE W. SHAW. 

